It Begins With a Vision

The Foundation has its beginnings in my own vision. It is an idea that I hope will grow, develop and eventually become something much bigger than anything I could create alone.

It was 3 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't sleep. An idea kept going round and round in my head. It sounded a little crazy, but I knew I had to get up and write it down if I was ever going to get any sleep!

This is what I wrote.

A foundation without any funds.

I imagined thousands of people, in communities around the world, all working towards a common goal:

To create a better world by changing the way we live, think, and work with nature.

I began to imagine turning the traditional idea of a foundation on its head.

There would be no billionaire or billion-pound corporation funding goodwill activities. No large central fund, no financial rewards, and no single individual deciding which causes deserved support or where the money should go.

In fact, there would be no money within the Foundation itself.

Instead, its greatest resource would be people: their knowledge, experience, ideas, skills, creativity, enthusiasm and willingness to take action.

It is my vision, but it is not mine to control.

I am simply putting the idea out into the world. What happens next should be shaped by the people who choose to become part of it.

The Butterfly Effect

My vision is built around a simple idea often described as the butterfly effect.

The suggestion that something as small as a butterfly flapping its wings could, through a chain of events, contribute to much greater changes somewhere else in the world is a fascinating metaphor.

It illustrates something I believe very strongly:

Small actions, multiplied by many people, can create enormous change.

Imagine what might be possible if thousands, or even millions, of people began making small but meaningful changes in their everyday lives.

Not everyone needs to do the same thing. Not everyone has the same resources, opportunities or abilities. What matters is that we each find ways to contribute.

As Co-Creators, our intention is to help ensure that the changes we make are beneficial to nature, to ourselves and to the planet as a whole.

The Co-Creator

So where do I begin?

For my part, I am starting by sharing this idea with friends, through my website and within my other publications. I will also share some of the ways I am trying to make a difference in my own daily life and beyond.

There are so many opportunities to influence the future, and they don't all require money, specialist knowledge or enormous amounts of time.

At 70 years young, with limited funds, my own achievements may sometimes seem small. Others may have more time, resources or opportunities to do much more.

But I believe we can all do something.

We can grow more food, even if it is just a few tubs on a balcony or patio. We can think more carefully about where we spend our money and choose products that are more sustainable and regenerative. We can walk more and drive less, reuse rather than automatically buy new, share what we know and help others discover better ways of doing things.

The list goes on.

These are just everyday examples. The real opportunities will come from the ideas, experiences and discoveries that we share with one another.

I don't have all the answers. I don't expect everyone to agree with every idea, and I certainly don't want to tell people how to live their lives.

What I hope to encourage is an open-minded community in which we can question, explore, learn and create together.

A Vision We Can Share

I genuinely believe that we, as Co-Creators of the Abstract Essentialism Foundation, can help create a better world.

Why?

Because we have something incredibly valuable to work with: people.

People who care. People who have knowledge and experience to share. People who have ideas, skills and enthusiasm. People who are willing to make changes, however small, and encourage others to do the same.

Our potential reach is enormous. We are part of a world of billions of people, each with the ability to influence their own surroundings and, in turn, the lives of others.

I realise that, at this moment in history, what I am suggesting may sound far-fetched, a little crazy and possibly even a bit nutty!

That's fine. I am not asking you to accept everything I say or believe that we have already worked out how to achieve it.

I simply ask that you keep an open mind and give the idea an opportunity to develop. Perhaps, together, we can discover possibilities that none of us could have imagined alone.

And one final thought.

I hope that, from what I have written, you can see that these are not the words of a large organisation or a carefully constructed corporate message.

I am a real human being, with my own hopes, doubts, imperfections and enthusiasm. I am still learning, still exploring and still trying to make sense of the world around me.

But I care. And I believe that caring, when translated into action and shared with others, can make a difference.

Come and Help Us Discover What Is Possible

The Foundation is only just beginning.

There is no grand organisation behind it, no large fund and no finished blueprint.

There is simply an idea, my vision — and an invitation to help shape what comes next.

Imagine. Share. Connect. Create. Act. Inspire. Regenerate.

If that feels like something you'd like to be part of, I'd love to welcome you as a Co-Creator.

Join the Foundation Community → https://groups.google.com/g/the-abstract-essentialism-foundation